Axle cleaning device



June 26, 1956 J. R. MCLAGGAN AXLE CLEANING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April ll, 1952 F MM m M! ym Z w M K June 26, 1956 J. R. MCLAGGAN AXLE CLEANING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1952 INVENTOR. \jiri RM Zflj jd/Z June 26, 1956 J. R. M LAGGAN AXLE CLEANING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 11, 1952 INVENTOR.

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June 25, 1956 j R MCLAGGAN 2,751,617

AXLE CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l- IN VEN TOR.

coupling 19, with an United States Patent AXLE CLEANING DEVICE John R. McLaggan, Springfield, Ivio.

Application April 11, 1952,:Serial No. 281,806

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-88) This invention relates to a :r'nachine for automatically cleaning elongated, generallycylindri'cal devices and more particularly to a machine-for cleam'ng railroad car axles.

According to Governmentregulations, railroad car axles which have been removed must be magnet c particle tested before being remounted. vBefore such inspection can be .made, it'is,-of course, necessary that the axle be thoroughlycleaned. This has been in the past a very tedious and relatively expensive operation, in view of-the-fast that the axles, after long periods of use-on railroad cars, are caked with dirt, rust, scale and other foreign matter. Therefore, it has heretofore taken one or moremen a considerable period of time to clean the axles so that they may be magnetic particle tested in accordance withthe aforementioned regulations.

it .is an object of this invention to provide a machine ,for automatically cleaning railroad car axles in a short period of time and .in an extremely 'efiicient and satisfactcry manner.

.It is a .furtherobject .of this invention to provide a machine of the aforementioned type, which neednot :be up- ;eratorattended and into which and from which axles can be automatically fed and discharged.

it is'a still further object of this invention to provide a machine of the aforementioned type, which is :relatively inexpensive .to manufacture, .easy to maintain and relatively compact in construction.

These and other objects of this invention :will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken 'in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in .which:

Figure 1 is afront .elevational view of the machine :of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section and partially in elevation, taken along the line 22 of Fig. l

Fig. .3 is a top plan viewof the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

- Fig. 5 is a front .elevational view of .the structure illus- Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional-view of the structure illustrated inFig. 1, t-akenalong the line 6-6 thereof; and

.Fig. 7 is a view similar .to Fig. 6, illustratingthe parts in a raised position.

Referring now to the drawings, it .Will be seen that themachineincludes a stationary supporting structure 9. The

supporting structure 9 includes a supporting member 11,

' 27, so that rotation of the shaft 13 causes rotation in'the 2,751,617 Patented June '26, 1956 same direction of the shaft 15. A pair of end to and spaced rollers 29 are provided on the shafts 13 and 15 adjacent the chain 27, and a similar pair of end to end spaced rollers 31 are provided adjacent the opposite end of the shafts J3 and '15. The rollers are spaced so as to properly receive, support and rotatably drive a railroad car axle 33 positioned thereon in-a manner which will be hereinafter described; The opposite ends of the axle 33 rest onthe rollers 29 and 31 and when the rollers are'rotatably driven the engagement of the rollers with the axle will cause rotation of the axle. -While the axle may rotate at any desired speed, it 'has been found that a speed of approximately 37 R. -P. M. is satisfactory, and in order vto provide rollers which will properly wear and properly rotate'the axle, it has been found that asteel roller having a bronze rim operates satisfactorily.

Supported above the rollers 29 and 31 is a stationary track or frame member 35, which is supported adjacent its opposite ends by frame portions 37. A carriage or truck 39 is 'movably supported on the track member through rollers 41 for carrying a cleaning device or mechanism, generally indicated at 43, as can be-best seen inFigs. -4-and '5. The carriage or truck 39 is adapted to be recip- :rocated laterally so as to carry the cleaning mechanism longitudinally of the axle 33 and clean the same fromone end to the other. In orderto reciprocate the carriage 39 an endless chain 45 extends aroundsuitablepulleys 4.7 and 49, disposed adjacent opposite :ends of thetrack member 35. A slack adjuster 51 is provided adjacent the right hand pulley 49 for adjusting slack in the chain in a conventional manner. The-pulley47 is connected to the output shaft 53 of an angle drive mechanism 55, the input shaft of which carries a gear-57. The gear 57 is-connected with a gear 59 carried on the left hand end-of the shaft 15, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of a chain 6.1. Thechain 45 is connected with the truck or carriage 39 in any'suitable manner so that whenthe motor'21is operated to cause rotation 'ofthe axle supporting rollers 29and 31, the truck or carriage 39 will be reciprocated or moved along the track longitudinally of the'axle.

In order to clean the axle 33 the cleaning device is illustrated as incorporating spaced rotary brush members 63 which engage the axle during its reciprocation and effectively .cleanall dirt, rust, scale and foreign matter therefrom. While rotary brushes are illustrated as providing the cleaning means, it willbe appreciated that other cleaning mechanisms may be incorporated, such as a sand blasting mechanism or other suitable devices. The brushes 63 are supported on an axle or shaft 65, which in turn is journaled in the lower ends of a pair of interconnected spaced bracket or support members 67. The bracket or supporting members67 are of agenerally inverted L shape andinclude downwardly extending angular portions 69:and a generally horizontal or platform portion 71. Supported on the front of the horizontal portions 71 is a suitable electric motor 73, the drive shaft of which carries pulleys 75 which are connected with pulleys 77 on a shaft 79 supported by the bracket or supportingmember 67 below the motor. Belts 81 connect the pulleys 75 and 77 so that the shaft 79 is rotatably driven by the motor 73. Pulleys 77 are carried by the shaft 79 between the bracket members 67 and are connected with pulleys 85 on the brush shaft 65b belts 87. The brushes are therefore rotatablydriven by the motor 73, through a suitable belt drive arrangement. While the brushes may-rotate at any desired speed, it has been found thatrotation of the brushes at a'speed of around 2500 R. P. M. produces satisfactory results.

The horizontal portions 71 of the bracket members 67 are provided with a downwardlyextending ear or projection '89, which projection is pivotally connected to the carriage 39 by a hinge or pivot pin 91. Due tothe fact 'thatthe motor73 is disposed forwardly of the hinge pin 91, as well as the brushes 63 on the lower end of the bracket member. 67, the-brushes will be normally retained in engagement with the axle supported by the rollers 29 and 31. However, when the axle 33 is moved forwardly out of engagement with the rollers 29 and 31 and onto a downwardly inclined track 93, as can be seen in Fig. 4, the brushes will be swung upwardly out of the way by the forward movement of the axle, about the pivot pin 91. As soon as the axle has passed under the brushes the brushes will swing down into engagement with the next axle supported by the rollers. A cushioning piston and cylinder unit 94 is provided for cushioning the down- 'ward movement of the brushes and preventing damage to the same.- Thus the brushes canswing out of interfering relationship with axles which are being discharged from the machine, but will be gravity returned into proper engagement with the next axle to be cleaned. Supported on the bracket members 67 is a cross member 95 having abutments 97 on the opposite ends thereof, which are adapted to engage and actuate limit switches 99 or 101 supported on the track member 35 adjacent the opposite ends. thereof. Upon actuation of either of the limit switches 99 or 101, the direction of rotation of the motor 21 will be reversed so that not only will the axle be rotated in the opposite direction, but the direction of movement of the carriage and cleaning mechanism will be reversed. The switches are so located that only the portions of'the axles between the wheel bearing or journal portions, on the opposite ends of the axles, are cleaned. The hearing or journal portions must be re-turned so there is no necessity of cleaning the same. It is possible to satisfactorily clean an axle with one pass of the brushes thereover in one direction, but if desired, or found necessary' two passes of the brushes can be made in the cleaning operation wherein the axle will be rotated in two di- "rections and the brushes, while being rotated, will be 'moved'in opposite directions across the axle to clean the same.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the carriage moves first from right to left, strikes the limit switch 99, and then moves from left to right. During the return stroke of the carriage and cleaning mechanism and just prior to the actuation ofthe limit switch 101, a projecting arm or abutment 105 on the cleaning mechanism strikes a lever 107, or some other suitable actuating device or mechanism, supported by the stationary framework adjacent the limit switch 101. The lever 107 is normally held in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 by a spring 109, but when the carriage is moving to the right the abutment 105 strikes the lever 107 and moves the same in a clockwise direction before striking the limitswitch 101. The actuation of the lever 107 causes actuation of an air cylinder unit 111 of any suitable design or construction supported on the stationary framework 9 adjacent the right hand edge of the machine,

as viewed in Fig. l. The actuation of the lever 107 causes the air in the cylinder unit 111 to force the piston thereof downwardly and thus move the piston rod 113,

which is connected with the piston in any suitable man- "ner, in a downward direction. The movement of the ment with the rollers 29 and 31. Therefore, the subsequent axle to be cleaned is moved into its position on the rollers 29 and 31 just before or simultaneously with the actuation of the limit switch 101, so that when the carrlage starts its movement from right to left the next axle to be cleaned w1ll be in the proper position and the prevlilously cleaned axle will have been ejected from the mac me.

or other suitableimechanism, must be provided adjacent 7 It will of course be obvious that if the axles are to be cleaned with only one pass of the brushes, a lever I limit switch 99 so as to actuate air cylinder unit 111 when the brushes approach switch 99, as well as switch 101,-as illustrated.

In order to maintain the machine in continuous automatic operation, a plurality of axles to be cleaned are placed on an inclined track 117 which terminates at an inclined supporting structure 119 on the back of the machine, which supporting structure is provided with a notched or cut out portion 121 for receiving and supporting the next or subsequent axle to be cleaned, as soon as the axle supported on the rollers has been ejected. Therefore, with this arrangement a continuous supply of axles may be provided and the machine will automatically feed the same into the cleaning position and eject the clean axle from the machine. The ejecting and feeding mechanism illustrated in the drawing comprises a crank or lever 122, which is disposed in an inclined position with the forward end thereof connected to the lower end of the piston rod 113 in any suitable manner, so that when the erally horizontal link 127 and a vertical link 129 inter- The upper end of each of connected or joined at 131. the link portions 129 is pivotally connected to the under side of a platform 133, which is pivotally supported at its front end on a pivot pin 135. Projecting upwardly from each platform 133 below the axle 33, supported by the rollers, is a finger 137 which is provided with a spurlike portion 139 on the back end thereof. A second finger 141 projects upwardly from each platform member 133, below the framework notch or recess 121, for supporting the next axle to be cleaned, and has its top edge forwardly and downwardly inclined, for a reason which will hereinafter appear. When the piston rod 113 is moved downwardly'due to actuation of the lever 107, the linkage mechanisms comprising members 122, shaft 123, and

members 127 and 129, are actuated so that the links 129 move upwardly against the under side of the platforms 133. The front end of each platform pivots above its pivot pin 135 as the back end is swung upwardly'so that, as can be seen in Fig. 7, the axle 33 supported by the rollers is lifted upwardly by the finger 137 and moved forwardly onto the inclined track portion 93 and out of engagement with the rollers 29 and 31. At the same time the finger 141 moves upwardly and engages the subsequent axle or next axle to be cleaned 115, and raises the same out of its supporting notch 121, and due to its inclined upper surface, moves the same forwardly along the supporting tracklike structure into engagement with the rollers 29 and 31. While the'axle 33 which has been moved by the finger 137 will normally roll. down the trackway and out of the machine, if for any reason it should tend ;to hang, the oncoming rolling axle will knock the cleaned axle forwardly and out of the way. The axle 115 then assumes the position in engagement with the rollers 29 and 31, the limit switch 101 is actuated by the cleaning mechanism, the brushes 63 which had been moved upwardly by the cleaned axle passing from the machine have dropped down by gravity, back into engagement with the new axle, and the carriage even with the reciprocating stroke in one minute and ten seconds. This cleaning time, in comparison with cleaning time's previously found necessary for the cleaning of railroad axles, is extremely small, and a great saving in timeaswell as manpower is achieved through the provision of the relatively simple, compact, durable, and inexpensive mechanism of this invention.

What is claimed is: l. A machine for cleaning axles including stationary supporting structure, means on said stationary supporting structure for supporting and rotating an axle to be cleaned, means on said stationary supporting structure adjacent said supporting and rotating means for supporting a second axle to be cleaned, a device movably supported adjacent said supporting and rotating mean for carrying means to engage and clean the axle during its rotation, means for moving said device longitudinally of the axle so that the axle will be cleaned from one predetermined point to another, means supported on said stationary supporting structure adjacent said axle supporting and rotating means actuatable to engage the axle and move the same away from said supporting mean after the axle has been cleaned, means supported on said stationary supporting structure adjacent said second axle supporting means actuatable to engage the second axle and move the same into engagement with said axle sup porting and rotating means, after the one axle has been cleaned, and means supported on said stationary supporting structure and operatively connected with both of said axle engaging and moving means actuatable by said device at the end of its movement during the cleaning operation to cause the actuation of both said axle engaging and moving means.

2. A machine for cleaning axles, including a stationary supporting structure, means rotatably supported on said stationary structure for supporting and rotating an axle to be cleaned, means for rotating said axle supporting and rotating means, track means supported on said stationary supporting structure adjacent said axle supporting and rotating means extending longitudinally of the axle, a carriage movably supported on said track means for movement longitudinally of the axle, a mechanism for carrying means to engage and clean the axle during its rotation, said mechanism being pivotally supported on said carriage so as to be movable toward and away from the axle to be cleaned, means supported on said stationary supporting structure adjacent said axle supporting and rotating means actuatable to engage the axle and move the same away from said supporting means after it has been cleaned, and means supported on said stationary supporting structure and operatively connected with said axle engaging and moving means actuatable by said mechanism at the end of its movement during the cleaning operation to cause the actuation of said axle engaging and moving means.

3. A machine for cleaning axles, including a stationary supporting structure, means rotatably supported on said stationary structure for supporting and rotating an axle to be cleaned, means for rotating said supporting means, track means supported on said stationary structure above said axle supporting means and extending longitudinally of the axle, a carriage movably supported on said track means, brush means engageable with said axle for cleaning the same, means rotatably supporting said brush means, including bracket members having a generally horizontal portion and a portion extending angularly downwardly therefrom in the lower end of which said brush means are supported, motor means supported on said horizontal portion, means operatively connecting said motor means with said brush means for rotatably driving the same, means pivotally connecting said bracket means to said carriage means so that said brush means can be moved toward and away from the axle supporting means, means supported adjacent said axle supporting means actuatable to engage the axle and move the same away from said supporting means after it has been cleaned, which movement will cause the brush means and its supporting structure to pivot away from said axle supporting means when the axle moves therefrom, and means supported on said stationary supporting structure ary supporting structure, a pair of rollers disposed in an end-to-end spaced relationship and rotatably supported on said stationary supporting structure, a second pair of end-to-end spaced rollers rotatably supported on said stationary structure in spaced and aligned relationship with said first pair of rollers, said rollers being engageable with an axle to be cleaned to rotatably support the same, means for simultaneously driving said rollers to cause rotation of said axle while supporting the same, means movably supported on said stationary structure adjacent said rollers for cleaning the axle during its rotation, means for moving said cleaning means longitudinally between said spaced pairs of rollers so as to clean the axle, and means actuatable at the end of the movement of said cleaning means for engaging the axle and moving the same out of engagement with the rollers, said actuatable means including a first element disposed in the path of movement of said cleaning means and a second element operatively connected with said first element and movable upon engagement of said first element with said cleaning means to move an axle out of engagement with the rollers.

5. A machine for cleaning axles including a stationary supporting structure, spaced roller means rotatably supported on said supporting structure for engaging and rotatably supporting an axle to be cleaned, a device for cleaning an axle supported by said roller means, carriage means movably supporting said cleaning device on said supporting structure for movement longitudinally of the axle to be cleaned, motor means for rotating said roller means and for reciprocating said cleaning device carriage means, means connecting said motor means with said roller means, means connecting said motor means with said carriage means for causing reciprocation thereof, spaced switch elements supported on said stationary structure in spaced relation to each other and adapted to be engaged by said cleaning device when the latter approaches the end of its movement in either direction, said switch elements being operatively connected with said motor means so that when either of said switch elements is engaged said motor means will reverse the direction of movement of said roller means and said carriage means.

6. A machine for cleaning axles including a stationary supporting structure, spaced roller means rotatably supported on said supporting structure for engaging and rotatably supporting an axle to be cleaned, a device for cleaning an axle supported by said roller means, carriage means movably supporting said cleaning device on said supporting structure for movement longitudinally of the axle to be cleaned, motor means for rotating said roller means and for reciprocating said cleaning device carriage means, means connecting said motor means with said roller means, means connecting said motor means with said carriage means for causing reciprocation thereof, spaced switch elements supported on said stationary structure in spaced relation to each other and adapted to be engaged by said cleaning device when the latter approaches the end of its movement in either direction, said switch elements being operatively connected with said motor means so that when either of said switch elements is engaged said motor means will reverse the direction of movement of said roller means and said carriage means, means for engaging the axle supported by said roller means and moving the same out of engagement therewith upon actuation, and a contact element disposed in the path of movement of said cleaning device and engageable thereby prior to the engagement of the cleaning L device with at least one of said switch elements, to cause actuation'of said axle engaging and moving means and the ensuingremo'val of said axle.

References Cited in the file of this patent 4 8 Stevens Oct. 12, 192 6 Camerota 4 Apr. 19, 1938 Miller 'et a1. July 25, 1950 FOREIGNPATICENTSNV';

Germany Dec. 17, 1905 

